The fluorescent lights hummed softly in the exam room as Emma Harris, thirty-eight weeks pregnant, rested on the cushioned table. She cradled her belly with one hand, exhausted but hopeful. This appointment was supposed to be ordinary—her final checkup before welcoming her baby girl.
Dr. Alan Cooper had guided her through every milestone of her pregnancy, his voice always calm as he pointed out tiny hands, a perfect heartbeat, a growing profile. But today, something felt different. His hand trembled as he moved the ultrasound probe across her stomach.
